The Dominican Republic has announced plans to expel up to 10,000 Haitian migrants per week, despite ongoing concerns from the United Nations about the dire conditions in Haiti, where gang violence has spiraled out of control. Dominican presidential spokesperson Homero Figueroa stated that the move is aimed at addressing what the government sees as an excessive number of migrants in the country’s communities. The expulsions are set to begin immediately.

This decision comes at a time when violence in Haiti has reached alarming levels. The UN recently reported that more than 3,661 people were killed in the first half of 2024 due to rampant gang violence, which has displaced over 700,000 people and left half the population facing acute hunger. Gangs, which control about 80% of Port-au-Prince, have continued to target prisons and state institutions. Despite efforts by the international community, including the deployment of a UN-backed police force led by Kenya, the violence shows no sign of abating.

Dominican President Luis Abinader has justified the expulsions by citing the international community’s failure to restore stability in Haiti. In 2023, the Dominican Republic expelled 250,000 undocumented Haitians, and this latest plan could double that number. However, official statistics indicate that fewer than 500,000 Haitians currently reside in the Dominican Republic, raising questions about how the government intends to implement such a large-scale expulsion.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups, who accuse the Dominican government of enacting discriminatory policies. They argue that the expulsions are racially motivated, as Haitians in the Dominican Republic often face long-standing prejudice. Some critics have claimed that Black Dominicans are being unfairly targeted as part of the crackdown, and that the deportations have led to the separation of families and the expulsion of individuals with legal residency or citizenship.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has urged countries not to deport Haitians, emphasizing that Haiti’s current situation makes it unsafe for returns. Despite these warnings, the Dominican Republic’s government appears determined to press ahead with its mass deportation plan, citing a lack of international action in addressing the crisis in Haiti.